Bad news, patriots. If you were looking forward to getting a flag that has flown in the Capitol from your local congressman, you're out of luck.

(CQ Roll Call File Photo.)

"Due to the continuing lapse in appropriations, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) Flag Office remains closed. Flag requests will not be processed until the Flag Office reopens," a downer message to the Capitol community from House Chief Administrative Officer Dan Strodel said today.

The flag may have been waving strong from everything from the War of 1812 battle that inspired Francis Scott Key's "Star Spangled Banner" to the present time, but it seems that the idiocy of a government shutdown can bring it to heel.

Pouring it on, Strodel also informs congressional offices, at least those that can check their email, that they "may also wish to inform consituents that all requests for flags will be delayed because of the lapse." Fear not, those, there's a money back guarantee! "To refund a constituent who paid by check, please submit a voucher to the Office of Financial Counseling in B-245 Longworth HOB. To refund constituents who paid by credit card, submit the Pay.gov Credit Card Refund Request Form," he states.